Chu Nan Passed the Provincial Examination, the Qinghai Gang Made Its Move

There appeared-

A cold-faced man strode forward in a red brocade robe, a Demon-Suppressing Saber at his waist. Behind him, a scarlet cloak streamed in the wind, imposing beyond compare!

"Chu He!"

"He actually didn't die... pfft... no, he shouldn't be alive... pfft... that's not right either."

"He survived falling off a cliff with his lamp out of oil, and even broke through to the Third Rank. Why does this feel like the formulaic life of a storybook protagonist?"

"Hiss... I've got to admit, that outfit is damn handsome. Wearing a red flood-dragon robe-what an honor."

For a moment.

The many Demon Suppression Guards spoke in shock.

It really was!

Chu He, who should have been dead, whose memorial service had already been held, had appeared alive before them. He had even broken through to the Third Rank and become the Sixth Camp's Hundred Household Commander. They could not take it in all at once.

And yet!

The Demon Suppression Guards behind them still instinctively moved to either side of the road, allowing Chu He to pass unimpeded.

At that moment!

Apart from a few Hundred Household Commanders close to Zhang Wei who had received the news beforehand, the other Hundred Household Commanders were equally dumbfounded!

"Hundred Household Commander Zhang, what's going on?"

"How did that subordinate of yours come back to life and become a Hundred Household Commander?"

"Ahem... ahem..."

Zhang Wei tilted his head back and coughed twice, then said proudly, "A child without a mother-a long story to tell. Just watch."

Step!

Chu He walked up level with the Hundred Household Commanders and declared, "Chu He, Hundred Household Commander of the Sixth Camp, Third Army, Demon Suppression Bureau, reporting for duty."

"Good!"

Zhou Cang nodded. With a casual wave of his large hand, a token appeared before Chu He. "This is a Hundred Household Commander's token, forged from special materials. It allows messages to be exchanged across a province. It also suppresses demons; ordinary Second Rank demons dare not come within ten zhang of it."

Whoosh!

Chu He took the token. Feeling the icy sensation coming from it, he knew that this was a true demon-suppressing treasure.

As for the Hundred Household Commanders' tokens!

The Demon Suppression Bureau maintained a system of reclamation. In other words, once a Hundred Household Commander fell, their token would be reclaimed and given to their successor. His token was the very one Sun Shang had once carried.

Chu He raised the token and shouted:

"Demon suppression, everlasting!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Over a thousand Demon Suppression Guards, whether Hundred Household Commanders, Company Commanders, or ordinary guards, all raised their own tokens:

"Demon suppression, everlasting!"

"Demon suppression, everlasting!"

"..."

The earth-shaking shouts rang through nearly half of Yunzhou City, frightening countless powerful members of the great clans pale!

They did not know what had happened, but they remembered that the last time had been decades ago, when the Demon Suppression Bureau had launched a great slaughter!

Thus!

That night!

Many heads of great clans slept poorly, terrified that they would wake to find the Demon Suppression Bureau at their doors to slaughter them!

Even with the imperial court now in decline, if the Demon Suppression Bureau truly unleashed its wrath and began killing, they could do nothing about it. This was also why the other sects and great clans dared not act recklessly whenever the Demon Suppression Bureau took a hard line.

The next day!

Inside the Third Army's command tent!

Qian Hao set down the scroll in his hand and said, "Chu He, the higher-ups have assigned the Sixth Camp to Green Mountain Commandery for a rotation."

"That is your hometown. Your return will bring glory to your ancestors, so you can make a grand occasion of it."

"Commander Zhou instructed me to tell you: you're a hero of the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau, someone who wears a red robe embroidered with a flood dragon. There's no need to keep a low profile."

"Understood!"

Chu He nodded in reply.

The meaning behind Qian Hao's words was clear: there was probably a faction in Green Mountain Commandery that had persistently refused to obey, but perhaps for special reasons, the Yunzhou Demon Suppression Bureau could not suppress it directly.

So!

They were sending him to find fault under the pretext of a rotation. After all, his arrogant, supercilious manner was known throughout Yun Province. And with his recent great merit, he could be even more brazen and fearless.

Green Mountain Commandery!

The Chu residence!

It was now festooned with lanterns and colored decorations. Countless servants were hanging red lanterns throughout the residence, filling it with festive cheer.

Everyone passing by could not help taking a second look, and curiosity showed on many faces:

"What's going on here?"

"You haven't heard? Word came from the prefecture before dawn today: the Chu residence's Second Master passed the provincial examination. They're holding a grand banquet tomorrow."

"A provincial graduate? Doesn't that mean he's qualified to travel to the capital for the examination? If he successfully opens a Confucian Palace, won't he become an incredible figure?"

"The Chu family is already a wealthy merchant family in our Green Mountain Commandery, and the elder brother is a Company Commander in the Demon Suppression Bureau. I imagine this banquet will be packed with distinguished guests."

A scholar who was himself a licentiate spoke enviously.

Those around him nodded along. Whether it was the status of a Demon Suppression Bureau Company Commander or that of a provincial graduate, either was enough to bring all the major factions in the commandery city to offer congratulations.

After all, there was no harm in befriending two men with boundless prospects. On the contrary, offending them by failing to attend could easily cause trouble.

"Not necessarily!"

Another scholar shook his head disdainfully. "He's a one-armed scholar. Even if he goes to the capital, he won't achieve anything."

"Besides, among those in our Qinshan Commandery who passed this time was the Qinghai Gang's Eighth Young Master. Just wait and see."

With that.

He walked toward the Qinghai Gang's headquarters with a sneer.

The Chu residence's main hall!

Chu Nan sat in the seat of honor, listening to the steward report on preparations for the grand banquet celebrating his examination success.

"Why change the banquet venue? Is Chushan Restaurant not good enough?"

"Second Master... well... Chushan Restaurant is in the north, and its feng shui is poor. So I suggest holding it at Dongyang Restaurant in the east."

The steward wiped away his cold sweat as he spoke.

"Second Master, something terrible has happened..."

There appeared-

A guard hurried into the main hall, his face full of anxiety. Ignoring the steward's meaningful looks, he hastily said:

"Second Master, the Qinghai Gang is holding a banquet at Qinghai Restaurant, directly opposite Chushan Restaurant, and they've invited everyone we invited."

Bang!

Chu Nan set down his teacup and said evenly, "Steward, you have ten breaths to explain."

"Second Master, your subordinate deserves death."

The steward's face went deathly pale. "News of the family head's death has already spread among Green Mountain Commandery's upper circles. The Qinghai Gang is powerful, and several great provincial and prefectural aristocratic houses support it.

"If we hold our banquet opposite theirs, our doors may well be deserted."

Having finished.

A trace of worry appeared on the steward's face.

He had spent ten years in the Chu residence and already regarded it as his true home. He did not want to see Chu Nan hurt, nor did he want him to witness the coldness of the world and all the faces of those who threw stones at a man down a well.

That way:

His studies and Confucian cultivation could easily be affected!

"You also believe my elder brother has fallen." Chu Nan picked up his teacup again and took a sip, then said coldly, "Hold it at Chushan Restaurant. Everything proceeds as planned."

"Yes!"

Seeing Chu Nan's resolute gaze, the steward nodded in reply.

The Qinghai Gang!

Wang Long sat upright on an ornate, tiger-skin-covered chair. Though his hair was entirely white, he was brimming with vigor. He was the leader of the Qinghai Gang!

With his cultivation at the early stage of the Third Rank, he was a top figure throughout Green Mountain Commandery. Even the local Demon Suppression Camp had to show him some respect.

"Gang Leader Wang, why are we deliberately inviting everyone the Chu residence invited, and holding our banquet opposite theirs?"

A protector asked in puzzlement.

The other protectors looked equally puzzled. The Chu family was, after all, a wealthy merchant family in Green Mountain Commandery. Though Chu He was dead, his connections might not have vanished entirely. Suppressing them like this was a thankless task.

"Fools!"

Wang Long slapped the table and said angrily, "What connections could a mere dead Company Commander have? The Demon Suppression Bureau is weak now, and a rotation is imminent.

"As long as our Qinghai Gang makes a name for itself and becomes Green Mountain Commandery's leading power, the great aristocratic houses will surely value us and channel resources our way. When that happens, will any of you still fear a shortage of resources?"

"The Chu residence is nothing more than a stepping stone for our Qinghai Gang's rise."

"Pass on my order: anyone who dares attend the Chu residence's banquet will become an enemy of the Qinghai Gang."